City Comparison

Cincinnati vs St Cloud

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Cincinnati

Ohio
91
Below Average
$195,000
Median Home
$1,100/mo
Median Rent
$44,003
Median Income

St Cloud

Minnesota
90
Below Average
$250,000
Median Home
$1,000/mo
Median Rent
$60,200
Median Income

The Verdict

1.1%

Living in St Cloud costs 1.1% less than Cincinnati. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Cincinnati, you would need $74,176 in St Cloud.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
76
Cincinnati
82
St Cloud
Groceries
99
Cincinnati
101
St Cloud
Utilities
93
Cincinnati
95
St Cloud
Transportation
101
Cincinnati
99
St Cloud
Healthcare
96
Cincinnati
100
St Cloud

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Cincinnati has the same purchasing power as $74,176 in St Cloud.

Conversely, $75,000 in St Cloud equals $75,833 in Cincinnati.

Living in Cincinnati vs St Cloud

Housing Costs

Cincinnati's housing index of 76 is lower St Cloud's 82, translating to median home prices of $195,000 vs $250,000. The $55,000 difference in home prices means roughly $3,576 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,100/mo in Cincinnati compared to $1,000/mo in St Cloud, a monthly difference of $100.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 99 in Cincinnati and 101 in St Cloud. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Cincinnati vs $480/month in St Cloud. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 93 in Cincinnati and 95 in St Cloud. Monthly utility bills average approximately $372 in Cincinnati vs $380 in St Cloud. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 96 in Cincinnati and 100 in St Cloud. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $44,003 in Cincinnati and $60,200 in St Cloud. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $48,355 and $66,889 respectively. St Cloud residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,027/month to housing in Cincinnati vs $1,405/month in St Cloud. In Cincinnati, median rent of $1,100/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In St Cloud, median rent of $1,000/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 6 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

St Cloud is 1.1% more affordable overall with an index of 90 vs 91.
A $75,000 salary in Cincinnati has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $74,176 in St Cloud, based on the cost of living difference.
Cincinnati's housing index is 76 with median homes at $195,000, while St Cloud's is 82 with median homes at $250,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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